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New Zealand Aid to Vanuatu post-cyclones Judy and Kevin. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Hilaire Bule
The latest Pacific aid figures from the Lowy Institute reveal it's been a record-breaking year in terms of project commitments, with over 51 donors pledging around US$5.5 billion to the region.
Its updated 2023 Pacific Aid Map also shows China continuing to decrease its aid spend in the region contrary to mainstream media narratives of Beijing's largesse in the region.
One concern noted by the institute is that donors are giving out less grants and more loans which it flags as something to keep an eye on given the already high levels of debt among countries in the region coming out of the pandemic.
RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins spoke with Lowy's Pacific Aid Map project director Alex Dayant about their findings.